Frustration takes hold in Jaguars' loss to Bengals

Sunday

Sep 30, 2012 at 11:32 PM

Ryan O'Halloran

For three weeks, the Jaguars could cite several excuses for their inability to sustain an acceptable level of performance: A depleted offensive line, a running back learning things on the fly, one starting cornerback who was injured and another who was being eased into the lineup and everybody learning how the new coaching staff wanted things done while in regular season mode.

And they were actually valid. The Jaguars spent September trying to make do without key parts.

Not anymore.

Despite being close to full health - only one projected starter remains injured - the Jaguars still have problems, all of which were on display in a 27-10 clunker of a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at EverBank Field.

They can't create sacks. They can't do one thing well two consecutive games. They are unable to consistently finish drives or stop drives. And, most disconcerting, the problems keep mounting, not dwindling.

"We failed to make some plays early and then let the game get out of hand late," coach Mike Mularkey said after the Jaguars fell to 1-3. "We have to learn how to make plays. It's all phases. That was the difference. You saw a team that did."

Having superior personnel helps.

Bengals receiver A.J. Green caught six passes for 117 yards and one touchdown; Cincinnati's interior defensive line, led by Geno Atkins, made life miserable for Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (six sacks); a secondary without four prominent players blanketed the Jaguars' receivers (tight end Marcedes Lewis had the longest completion - a screen that gained 23 yards); and the Bengals even executed a fake punt.

Torpedoing one's chances doesn't help, either.

The Jaguars fumbled away an interception, dropped another sure interception and committed a drive-extending roughing the passer penalty … all in the first eight minutes. Throw in a few more dropped passes, lost one-on-one match-ups in pass protection and the result was a 0-2 home start for the first time since the Jaguars' inaugural 1995 season.

"Everybody is ticked off," said Gabbert, who was 23-of-34 for 186 yards, one touchdown and his first interception. "We're pretty competitive guys so it doesn't sit well with us that we go out there and not perform at our best."

Said defensive end Jeremy Mincey: "We're all going through the same struggles together. We need to hold each other up and stay accountable."

Mincey was responsible for giving the Jaguars an opportunity despite another double-digit halftime deficit. With Cincinnati on the cusp of blowing the game open, Mincey forced running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis to fumble at the goal-line four minutes into the third quarter.

Hello hope.

The Jaguars marched to the Bengals' 12-yard line, poised to make it a four-point game. Instead, it was more of the same - incomplete pass, dump-off pass, dump-off pass and field goal. Josh Scobee already has four field goals this year of less than 30 yards - a sign the Jaguars do just enough to get into the red zone only to be stopped.

The Bengals answered the Jaguars' field goal with a touchdown - Dalton threw 18 yards to Green to make it 24-10 less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Good-bye momentum and ballgame.

"We're going to keep working," Jaguars safety Dawan Landry said. "When we make plays, we have to make sure we capitalize more on their mistakes."

That was the story of the first half, when the Jaguars dug themselves yet another hole. They've been outscored 55-19 this year in the opening two quarters.

The Jaguars' first defensive sequence serves as a microcosm. Andre Branch pressured Dalton on the second play of the game and Kyle Bosworth had his first NFL interception. But he fumbled on his way to a potential touchdown.

"Who knows what happens if we score on that first interception," Mularkey said.

Given a lifeline, the Bengals took a 3-0 lead when Rashean Mathis dropped a sure pick and rookie defensive back Antwon Blake was flagged 15 yards for roughing Dalton.

The Jaguars responded with a 13-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 7 minutes, 37 seconds. Mixing the run and pass, they didn't face a single third down during the possession, which was capped when Gabbert threw 2 yards to Lewis.

Cincinnati took the lead for good midway through the second quarter, using a 48-yard run by Cedric Peerman on a fake punt to set up Dalton's 1-yard pass to fullback Chris Pressley. On that play and throughout, Dalton had time to throw - he was hit only once in 31 pass attempts. The Jaguars have no sacks in their last three games.

"You look at the game today - they got to our quarterback and we didn't get to theirs," outside linebacker Russell Allen said.

Told it was a 6-0 sack advantage for Cincinnati, Allen said: "That right there says a lot."

Gabbert was under siege most of the game, making it tough for him to take advantage of the Bengals' patched-up secondary. Right tackle Cam Bradfield and left guard Eben Britton returned after missing two games apiece with left ankle injuries. By the second half, Britton was replaced by rookie Mike Brewster.

Protection is just one of many things the Jaguars will have to pinpoint as the second month of the season starts this week.

"Very disappointing," Mincey said. "We just have to come back and fight next week. There's plenty of hope regardless of what anybody says."

Ryan O'Halloran: (904) 359-4401

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